God made you uniquely you! There is no one else in the world like you and are the perfect homeschooling mom, carefully chosen by the Father of Lights for your own children.
All homeschooling moms are unique because of their spiritual maturity and their personalities. We can grow in the Lord, but we can also cultivate our personalities. So, let's have a little fun and explore this topic together. Maybe you will see yourself (or your best friend!) or maybe you'll see one of your children. On a more serious note, adapting our homeschooling style to fit our personalities can make a big difference in the joy and success we experience in homeschooling.Today we will meet homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholy! (Next time, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.)
Susie Sanguine
Perky and popular, Susie loves homeschooling, except when she hatesit. She is clever and funny, coming up with creative ideas to teach almost any subject. She participates in all kinds of co-ops, support groups, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. In fact, she and her children are seldom home. Why join one support group, when you can join three, is Susie's motto. She has many friends and other children wish their moms were more like Susie.
Her husband worries that the children are not home long enough to do their schoolwork."Aren't you homeschooling?" he asks. "Doesn't that involve being at home sometimes? Oh, and did you remember to defrost anything for dinner. I'm tired of pizza and burgers."
"My husband is not supportive of homeschooling," Susie confides to a friend. "He doesn't understand what children need."Susie loves shopping for curriculum and has tons of new books, workbooks, and textbooks. She also has a closet full of games, model kits, art supplies, computer software, DVDs, and teaching CDs. If only she were home long enough to use them. After awhile, Susie gets bored with her material and looks for something new.
Maggie Melancholy
Maggie is extremely talented and organized. She is admired by all her friends. She is an amazing artist, or musician, but sometimes she can be a little insecure. She feels insecure about homeschooling too, so she is extra careful in her planning. She dreams of the perfect homeschool family living life in an immaculate house with an idealistic schedule. Because we live in a fallen world, Maggie is constantly disappointed in herself and her family. She loves her children deeply, but worries that they are not learning enough or being challenged enough intellectually and spiritually.
After months of summer planning, Maggie has the perfect plan that, if carried out, will produce perfect children whose education will only be rivaled by royalty. Unfortunately, life happens, and she keeps postponing her start date for the perfect day to begin. Soon, it's November and no one has cracked a book.
Maggie often has high expectations for her children and frequently has them rewrite papers, redraw pictures, and retake tests. While Susie is constantly looking for curriculum that is more fun to use, Maggie is constantly trying to find curriculum that is better than what she already has. Because Maggie strives for excellence in everything she does, she expects the same of her children.
When you homeschool, work with who are and don't try to be someone you are not. This doesn't mean you can't overcome weaknesses, but accept yourself for who you are. God gave you to your children as a good and perfect gift. You are the very best mother your children could have. Relax. Here are some ways to flow with your personality and some cautions to take to heart
Susie Sanguine's Homeschooling Strengths
Susie, your greatest strength is that you love people and are able to make them feel loved! Love is the foundation for changed lives, so you are on the right track! Your children will always feel secure when you love them, even if they never quite know what is going to happen next. Your spontaneity and flexibility allows you to see interruptions and trials as opportunities to learn and grow. You are able to take advantage of teachable moments when they arise.
Susie, you are filled with wonder and enthusiasm! Your love of learning and adventure is also one of your greatest strengths.Your ability to meet people and take advantage of opportunities to investigate something new makes life an adventure for your children; school is never boring for your children.
Cautions for Susie Sanguine
Remember to stay home and do school on regular basis. It might be good to schedule two or three "at home only" days where you refuse to make any plans. Yes, I know that sounds hard, but it will be worth the effort.
Maggie Melancholy's Homeschooling Strengths
You are gifted, Maggie, and strive for excellence in everything you do. Your dreams are inspiring and the results of your hard work are admirable. Your children are blessed to have such a gifted mother who is detail oriented. Everyone around you recognizes and admires your amazing talents. Never forget that you are a blessing!
Cautions for Maggie Melancholy
Continue to work with a standard, but lower your expectations for your childrenandyourself. Children cannot be expected to be perfect in their behavior or schoolwork. Allow the people you love to fail...it's okay. God will help them get back up on their feet again.
A Final Word
Most of you can identify with different personalities, rather than just one. That's because there's only one you! If you're interested in learning more about personalities, please check out, Shona's and Shonda's column, Purely Personalities here at Take Root and Write.
Remember that whatever your homeschooling personality, you are a child of God, a beautiful princess, entrusted with the nurture and instruction of little ones who belong to God. His grace is sufficient and His power beyond imagination. Enjoy these years--how quickly they fly by.
"Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. Consider what great things He has done for you" (I Samuel 12:24 NIV).
God made you uniquely you! There is no one else in the world like you and are the perfect homeschooling mom, carefully chosen by the Father of Lights for your own children.All homeschooling moms are unique because of their spiritual maturity and their personalities. We can grow in the Lord, but we can also cultivate our personalities. So, let's have a little fun and explore this topic together. Maybe you will see yourself (or your best friend!) or maybe you'll see one of your children. On a more serious note, adapting our homeschooling style to fit our personalities can make a big difference in the joy and success we experience in homeschooling.Today we will meet homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholy! (Next time, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.)
Susie Sanguine
Perky and popular, Susie loves homeschooling, except when she hatesit. She is clever and funny, coming up with creative ideas to teach almost any subject. She participates in all kinds of co-ops, support groups, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. In fact, she and her children are seldom home. Why join one support group, when you can join three, is Susie's motto. She has many friends and other children wish their moms were more like Susie.
Her husband worries that the children are not home long enough to do their schoolwork."Aren't you homeschooling?" he asks. "Doesn't that involve being at home sometimes? Oh, and did you remember to defrost anything for dinner. I'm tired of pizza and burgers."
"My husband is not supportive of homeschooling," Susie confides to a friend. "He doesn't understand what children need."Susie loves shopping for curriculum and has tons of new books, workbooks, and textbooks. She also has a closet full of games, model kits, art supplies, computer software, DVDs, and teaching CDs. If only she were home long enough to use them. After awhile, Susie gets bored with her material and looks for something new.
Maggie Melancholy
Maggie is extremely talented and organized. She is admired by all her friends. She is an amazing artist, or musician, but sometimes she can be a little insecure. She feels insecure about homeschooling too, so she is extra careful in her planning. She dreams of the perfect homeschool family living life in an immaculate house with an idealistic schedule. Because we live in a fallen world, Maggie is constantly disappointed in herself and her family. She loves her children deeply, but worries that they are not learning enough or being challenged enough intellectually and spiritually.
After months of summer planning, Maggie has the perfect plan that, if carried out, will produce perfect children whose education will only be rivaled by royalty. Unfortunately, life happens, and she keeps postponing her start date for the perfect day to begin. Soon, it's November and no one has cracked a book.
Maggie often has high expectations for her children and frequently has them rewrite papers, redraw pictures, and retake tests. While Susie is constantly looking for curriculum that is more fun to use, Maggie is constantly trying to find curriculum that is better than what she already has. Because Maggie strives for excellence in everything she does, she expects the same of her children.
When you homeschool, work with who are and don't try to be someone you are not. This doesn't mean you can't overcome weaknesses, but accept yourself for who you are. God gave you to your children as a good and perfect gift. You are the very best mother your children could have. Relax. Here are some ways to flow with your personality and some cautions to take to heart
Susie Sanguine's Homeschooling Strengths
Susie, your greatest strength is that you love people and are able to make them feel loved! Love is the foundation for changed lives, so you are on the right track! Your children will always feel secure when you love them, even if they never quite know what is going to happen next. Your spontaneity and flexibility allows you to see interruptions and trials as opportunities to learn and grow. You are able to take advantage of teachable moments when they arise.
Susie, you are filled with wonder and enthusiasm! Your love of learning and adventure is also one of your greatest strengths.Your ability to meet people and take advantage of opportunities to investigate something new makes life an adventure for your children; school is never boring for your children.
Cautions for Susie Sanguine
Remember to stay home and do school on regular basis. It might be good to schedule two or three "at home only" days where you refuse to make any plans. Yes, I know that sounds hard, but it will be worth the effort.
Maggie Melancholy's Homeschooling Strengths
You are gifted, Maggie, and strive for excellence in everything you do. Your dreams are inspiring and the results of your hard work are admirable. Your children are blessed to have such a gifted mother who is detail oriented. Everyone around you recognizes and admires your amazing talents. Never forget that you are a blessing!
Cautions for Maggie Melancholy
Continue to work with a standard, but lower your expectations for your childrenandyourself. Children cannot be expected to be perfect in their behavior or schoolwork. Allow the people you love to fail...it's okay. God will help them get back up on their feet again.
A Final Word
Most of you can identify with different personalities, rather than just one. That's because there's only one you! If you're interested in learning more about personalities, please check out, Shona's and Shonda's column, Purely Personalities here at Take Root and Write.
Remember that whatever your homeschooling personality, you are a child of God, a beautiful princess, entrusted with the nurture and instruction of little ones who belong to God. His grace is sufficient and His power beyond imagination. Enjoy these years--how quickly they fly by.
"Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. Consider what great things He has done for you" (I Samuel 12:24 NIV).